A new phone app on campus helps users find deals by leaving their phone locked.

Pocket Points, from Pocket Points Inc., is an application for both Apple and Android phones. Available for free from their respective marketplaces, the application promotes the user locking their phones and keeping their attention on the lessons during their time in the classroom.

Originally launched in the fall of 2014 on Chico State campus in California, Pocket Points is currently being used in over 250 schools throughout 43 states plus D.C. and the Canadian province of British Columbia. Ohio alone has 18 different schools participating including Toledo and Ohio State. University saturation is around 10% since the start of the fall 2017 semester according to Pocket Points’ data.

A Business Insider interview with company founders Rob Richardson and Mitch Gardner, two former Chico State students and fraternity brothers, reveals the duo built the app while still in college. The two noticed cell phone use in class was becoming a problem and sought a solution. Their answer was Pocket Points. Since its creation the two students have taken a leave from college, Business Insider reports they intend to return to finish their degrees, and formed Pocket Points Incorporated with seed money from another Chico State alumnus.

The applications use, as described by Pocket Points’ Campus Success Director, Brianna Kline, is as simple as opening the application and locking your phone once you enter the classroom. The application will track the amount of time spent locked in the background. Exit class and unlock your phone to see the points you have earned.

The application does require you to register. Registering with Facebook is the default option, though there is a small link underneath the Facebook login link labeled “Don’t have Facebook”. Use either to sign up for an account and accept the request for the application to have access to your device’s location. Finally, set your school to Bowling Green State University, or Bowling Green High School if you are a high school student reading this article, and set your expected graduation date.

The application uses a technique called “geo-fencing” to detect where students are. Similar to applications like last summer’s Pokemon GO, or the evergreen Apple and Google Maps, the phone is tracked using geolocation date given off by the phone at the acceptance of the phone’s owner. Unlike GO and Maps, however, Pocket Points only tracks to see if you are – or are not – in a defined location.

The locations are defined by digital fences placed around buildings on campus determined, by Pocket Points’ internal researchers, to be educational buildings. Dorms and recreation centers are examples of excluded buildings. If the application detects you are inside the fence, then it will function correctly, collecting points as time passes. Walk outside the fence, and points stop accruing. Pocket Points did not provide a detailed map of the campus but stated their research teams put fences around classroom buildings and libraries.

Of note is the application’s limited ability to only track time spent in a location not the time spent in an actual class period. This means a student could not only earn points for being in class with his or her phone off but could also activate the application during a study time outside of class to earn points.

The application starts you off with 30 free points and points thereafter are earned at an average of one point per 20 minutes of inactivity on the phone. The formula can change depending on the number of active users the application has. The app also features a leader board element to track your points earned and compare them with other students by day or week.

Brianna listed several local franchises taking part in the applications reward process. Included, but not limited to, are Pita Pit, Dairy Queen, Collegiate Connection, Domino’s Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza and Insomnia Cookies. However, upon opening the gift section of the app, only College Connection and Insomnia Cookies are listed as local businesses involved at this time. The Pocket Points’ website has a page for businesses looking to sign up. There is also a link in the application to suggest a business that you would like to see.

The most common reward is a 10% to 20% off at the selected retail location for approximately 10 points. Other offers include solid dollar amounts of specific items as well as buy one, get one deals.

The monetary and gaming incentive of Pocket Points are a good draw for users, but the applications vision statement remains to increase student success by reducing cell phone distractions in the classroom.

“We are excited to expand Pocket Points to every school possible,” said Brianna. “I see a great future for it.”

A word of caution to users: the application, during personal tests, crashed often and at points needed a phone restart. As phone models differ, so does the performance of the application.